at the cross that overlooks Antigua
DAY 1
After an afternoon and evening of getting to know each other and preparing for day 1 and then after a night’s sleep at La Nueva Generación’s youth center in San Pedro al Alto, we left on the first of a number of rides on overcrowded buses. Our first stop was at the Hermano Pedro Hospital – a hospital which cares for those who are severely afflicted with cerebral palsy.
After returning to the youth center to eat lunch, we left on another bus for Antigua’s central plaza and on to Las Capuchinas’ ruins – a convent that was badly damaged during a 1700’s earthquake. After touring Las Capuchinas’ ruins, we climbed up to the cross that overlooks Antigua. From the cross, we walked to Antigua’s market to the find the bus – which was more than overcrowded, that would take us back to the youth center.
After eating a dinner prepared by our Nueva Generación’s host’s wife Mirella Castillo, time was spent celebrating together the day and preparing for day 2.
DAY 2
The big yellow school bus that took everyone from Guatemala’s airport to the youth center met us to take us to Mother Anna Vitiello Home – a convent that cares for children with HIV.
From Mother Anna Vitiello Home, the bus took us to San Lucas where before going to a San Lucas orphanage to spend time with the children who are there, we ate lunch at a fast food place called Pollo Brujo.
The evening was spent much like day 1’s evening.
DAY 3
After taking a bus to Antigua’s artesian market for some shopping, we walked to Antigua’s central plaza where groups of three spent time doing ATLs. Tuk tuks took us back to the youth center.
The big yellow bus met us about mid afternoon to take us to Sampongo where we met up with Betty Merida. Sampongo is where Mother Anna Vitiello Home is located. Betty teaches English to the children at the home. Betty first showed us where the local dump is located. Hygiene packets where given to those who were at the dump. Betty than took us to her church. An unforgettable memory will be singing special numbers at the front of the church while watching the sunset turn a brilliant red.
DAY 4
New Year’s Day. The big yellow bus met us early at the youth center to take us to the San Lucas orphanage. Nine orphans and one of the staff at the orphanage joined us on the bus which then made the nearly three hour trip to the black sand beach in Monterrico.
DAY 5
The big yellow bus met us even earlier – this time to take us to Pacaya. It would take some of us to make the over an hour and forty minute walk up to where the lava from this active volcano was still hot enough to almost roast marshmallows and then another hour back to the bus which then dropped us off at noon at Antigua’s artesian market.
The evening was spent at Don Rodrigo’s restaurant which hosted us for a celebratory dinner for our time together in Guatemala. Mariachi music was played while masked dancers did their thing. Then it was back in tuk tuks to the youth center to pack to be ready for an even earlier showing up the next morning of the big yellow bus to take almost everyone to Guatemala’s airport.
